Leea macrophylla

Large-leaved Leea is a very rare plant. It is native to India and cultivated in E. Asia - southwest China, India, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam. This plant has impressive large tropical leaves. Hathikana, literally meaning having elephant ears. The plant has switchy branches and perennial tuberous roots. Leaves are ovate-cordate, conspicuously large - lower leaves up to 25" in diameter. The large leaves lend it many of its common names. Tiny greenish white flowers in corymbose cymes. Berries are depressed-globose, black. Flowering: July-September.

The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine, and dye. It is planted in Sri Lanka for its medicinal use. Leaves - cooked and eaten as a vegetable.

Grow in filtered light.

Similar plants:

• Leea coccinea (Red Leea, West Indian Holly, Hawaiian Holly)
• Leea guineensis (Leea)
• Leea indica, Leea sambucina, Leea umbraculifera, Staphylea indica (Bandicoot Berry)
• Leea rubra, Leea brunoniana, Leea linearifolia, Leea polyphylla (Red Leea)